Manufactured apparel products made by circular knitting machines

ABSTRACT

Manufactured apparel products are provided which are made entirely on a circular knitting machine having needles on its dial. Such products include socks having patterns of the links-links type with a cut yarn central motif of the ribbed type with cut yarn central motif and of the interrupted and resumed ribbed type with or without cut yarn central motif. Methods of making such products are also provided.

The present invention relates to a man's sock made on a circular knitting machine for socks with needles on the dial.

As is known, the clothing sector is constantly in search of new products, with the main purpose of renewing customers' interest and convincing them to make new purchases.

In the men's socks sector, the need to continuously renew the range of products offered to consumers, clashes with the need to develop new machinery able to make innovative products, while maintaining the high production volumes needed for the an economic profit to be made.

The purpose of the present invention is to make men's socks using circular knitting machines for socks with needles on the dial.

The characteristics and advantages of the manufactured products according to the invention will be evident from the description below, made by way of a non-limiting example, according to the appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a portion of a man's sock according to the present invention, according to a first embodiment, and in particular a portion of sock in links-links with cut yarn motif;

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a portion of a man's sock according to the present invention, according to a further embodiment, and in particular a portion of continuous ribbed sock with cut yarn motif; and

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a portion of a man's sock according to the present invention, according to yet a further embodiment, and in particular a portion of sock with interrupted and resumed rib, with cut yarn motif.

The socks according to the invention are made using a circular knitting machine for socks with needles on the dial, having as many dial needles as cylinder needles.

One example of embodiment of such a machine is illustrated in the International Applications WO 2009/013773 and WO 2011/004310 in the Italian patent application for an invention BS2011A000001, in the Applicant's name.

The machine used to obtain the manufactured items according to the present invention is a circular knitting machine for making men's socks, comprising a cylinder, cylinder needles, cylinder needle drive means, an outer crown joined to the cylinder, a plurality of sinkers, sinker drive means, a dial, a dial shaft, a plurality of dial needles, dial needle drive means, yarn-fingers for feeding a plurality of yarns, dial needle selector means.

In addition, the aforesaid machine comprises a yarn cutter, supported and joined to the dial.

Preferably, moreover, the machine comprises means of mechanical traction suitable for exercising a pulling effect on the sock being formed by means of mechanical grasping of the sock being formed.

For example, the means of traction comprise a suction tube inside the cylinder, joined in rotation with it, a tubular bush, inside the suction tube, joined in rotation with it, axially translatable in it, bush drive means suitable for axially moving the bush, a gripping body, translatable inside the suction tube, inside the bush, which can be commanded to realise releasable gripping elements so as to pull a least a portion of the sock being formed against the bush, to pinch it mechanically, an axially sliding stem inside the dial shaft connected to the gripping body.

Preferably, moreover, the dial needle selector means comprise a plurality of selector rods oscillating on command, engageable with the dial needles to select at least some of them, said rods being bidirectionally constrained in a radial direction to the respective dial needles.

Preferably, moreover, the machine comprises a plurality of beams positioned radially on the dial, angularly distanced, having a working side and an opposite secondary side, wherein the beam has a discharge groove on the working side, which said tab of the dial needle faces, to prevent structural interferences during processing.

The machine is suitable for transporting the stitch from plain to purl and from purl to plain repeatedly as needed and to make, by means of special yarn fingers and the yarn cutter, central cut yarn motifs.

Moreover, the machine is suitable for obtaining three or more purl stitches consecutively along a weft.

According to one embodiment of the invention, using the aforesaid machine, a first sock 10 (FIG. 1) can be obtained, such as a links-links sock with a cut yarn motif.

The sock 10 has plain stitch portions, purl stitch portions and a central motif obtained using additional cut yarn.

Preferably, the purl stitch portions provide for one to the maximum number of dial needles of consecutive purl stitches along a weft, and in particular a number of three or more.

Preferably, the sock 10 envisages:

at least one portion 12 consisting of solely plain stitch wefts;

at least one further portion 14, 16 consisting of wefts with alternate plain and purl stitch sections, staggered from one weft to the next; and

at least one further portion 18 with alternate plain and purl stitch sections, staggered from one weft to the next, with the insertion, on the plain and/or purl stitch sections of uninterrupted sections of at least one additional yarn, even of a different length, preferably in colour contrast, which forms the central motif.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, using the aforesaid machine, a further sock 20 (FIG. 2) is obtained, such as a ribbed sock with a cut yarn motif. The sock 20 has plain stitch portions, purl stitch portions and a central motif obtained with additional cut yarn.

Preferably, the purl stitch portions provide for one to the maximum number of dial needles of consecutive purl stitches along a weft, and in particular a number of three or more.

Preferably, the sock 20 envisages:

at least one portion 22 consisting of wefts with alternate plain and purl stitch sections, not staggered; and

at least one further portion 24 with alternate plain and purl stitch sections, not staggered, with the insertion, on the plain and/or purl stitch sections of interrupted sections of additional yarn, preferably in colour contrast, which form the central motif.

According to yet a further embodiment of the invention, using the aforesaid machine, a further sock 30 (FIG. 3) is obtained, such as an interrupted and resumed ribbed sock, with a cut yarn motif.

The sock 30 has plain stitch portions, purl stitch portions and a central motif obtained using additional cut yarn.

Preferably, the purl stitch portions provide for one to the maximum number of dial needles of consecutive purl stitches along a weft, and in particular a number of three or more.

Preferably, the sock 30 envisages:

at least one portion 32 consisting of wefts with alternate plain and purl stitch sections, not staggered; and

at least one further portion 34 with alternate plain and purl stitch sections, not staggered, wherein in correspondence with the purl stitch sections of the previous portion 32, there are plain stitch sections;

at least one further portion 36 with alternate plain and purl stitch sections, not staggered in relation to the previous, with the insertion, on the plain and/or purl stitch sections of interrupted sections of at least one additional yarn, even of a different length, preferably in colour contrast, which forms the central motif.

Said sock presents an interrupted and resumed rib, in that along the warp, a passage from the purl stitch to the plain stitch and a further passage from the plain stitch to the purl stitch, can be identified with the insertion of a cut yarn central motif.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a sock comprises further combinations of the portions described for the aforementioned socks.

It is clear that a person skilled in the art may make modifications to the socks described above so as to satisfy contingent requirements while remaining within the sphere of protection of the following claims. 

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A manufactured apparel product made entirely on a circular knitting machine for hosiery having needles on a dial, said manufactured apparel product comprising a plain stitch portion, a purl stitch portion and a central motif obtained with at least one additional cut yarn.
 15. The manufactured apparel product of claim 14, further comprising a links-links portion comprising a cut yarn motif.
 16. The manufactured apparel product of claim 15, comprising at least one portion consisting solely of plain stitch wefts; at least one further portion consisting of wefts with alternate plain and purl stitch sections, staggered from one weft to the next; and at least one further portion comprising alternate plain and purl stitch sections, staggered from one weft to the next, with the insertion, on the plain and/or purl stitch sections of interrupted sections of at least one additional yarn which forms the central motif.
 17. The manufactured apparel product of claim 14 comprising a ribbed type portion which comprises a cut yarn motif.
 18. The manufactured apparel product of claim 17, comprising: at least one portion comprising wefts which comprise alternate plain and purl stitch sections which are not staggered; and at least one further portion comprising alternate plain and purl stitch sections which are not staggered, with the insertion, on the plain and/or purl stitch sections of interrupted sections of at least one additional yarn which forms the central motif.
 19. The manufactured apparel product of claim 14 comprising a ribbed type interrupted and resumed pattern which comprises a cut yarn motif.
 20. The manufactured apparel product of claim 19, wherein the purl stitch sections provide for three or more consecutive purl stitches along a weft.
 21. The manufactured apparel product of claim 19, comprising at least one portion comprising wefts which comprise alternate plain and purl stitch sections which are not staggered; at least one further portion comprising alternate plain and purl stitch sections which are not staggered, wherein in correspondence with the purl stitch sections of the previous portion, there are plain stitch sections; at least one further portion comprising alternate plain and purl stitch sections which are not staggered in relation to the previous, with the insertion, on the plain and/or purl stitch sections, of interrupted sections of at least one additional yarn which forms the central motif.
 22. The manufactured apparel product of claim 14, wherein the machine has the same number of dial needles as cylinder needles.
 23. The manufactured apparel product of claim 14, wherein the machine is suitable for transporting the stitch from plain to purl and from purl to plain repeatedly.
 24. The manufactured apparel product of claim 14, wherein the machine is suitable for obtaining, by yarn-fingers and a yarn cutter, central motifs of a cut yarn.
 25. The manufactured apparel product of claim 14, wherein the machine is suitable for obtaining from one to the maximum number of dial needles of consecutive purl stitches along a weft.
 26. A manufactured apparel product made entirely on a circular knitting machine for hosiery comprising needles on a dial, of the interrupted and resumed ribbed type, comprising plain stitch portions and purl stitch portions, wherein the purl stitch portions provide for one to the maximum number of dial needles of consecutive purl stitches along a weft.
 27. The manufactured apparel product of claim 14, wherein said product is a sock.
 28. The manufactured apparel product of claim 26, wherein said product is a sock. 